Crate



Nov. 27, 1934. s, A, McGAW 1,982,222

CRATE Filed Jan. 5, 1.953

Iigi IINVENTOR. SIDNEY A Mas/1w HIS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 2 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRATE Sidney A. McGaw, Albany, Calif. Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,747 6 Claims. (Cl. 217) My invention relates to a crate, and more par+ ticularly to a bottle crate, such as a milk bottle crate.

The object of my invention is to improve the I construction and reenforcement of a bottle crate, so that the same is better able to withstand the rough handling and abuse to which it is necessarily subjected.

The invention possesses other objects and fea- 10 tures of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant em- 18 bodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the crate embody- :0 ing my invention.

Figure ,2 is a plan view showing portions of the crate construction.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the channel member capping the side wall, taken in a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the channel member for capping the end wall. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the corner reenforcing construction.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the yoke piece connecting the partition rods; and

Figure 7 is also a detail view showing further elements of the internal reenforcing construction.

In terms of broad inclusion, the crate embodying my invention comprises side and end walls and a bottom wall of rods anchored in the end walls. Reenforcing is provided about the lower edges of the side and end walls, and the bottom wall rods are tied into this reenforcing. The corners of the crate are also reenforced, both inside and out, and this reenforcing is tied in with that about the lower edges of the walls. Means are also provided to prevent splitting of the upper edges of the walls. Partitions of longitudinally and laterally extending rods are provided in the crate, and reenforcing means are provided between these rods, the bottom rods and the walls.

Means are also incorporated in the walls to provide for ventilation.

In greater detail, the crate embodying my invention comprises side walls 3 and end walls 4 joined together in box formation. The walls are preferably built up of wooden slats or panels,

arranged on edge. An intermediate slat in each wall is preferably recessed along its edges to provide ventilating apertures 6. Both recesses may be formed by one operation in a milling machine. It is to be noted that the recesses do not extend the whole length of the slat but leave the full width at the ends of the slat, so that the recessed slat will butt against the adjacent slats to ensurea rigid wall structure. This is clearly shown in Figure 1.

The bottom edges of the side and end walls are reenforced by being capped with suitable channel members 7 and 8. These channel members provide runners or shoes for walls and protect the same when the crate is shoved about. The channel shape of these members is important in that it completely encloses or caps the lower portions of the walls. This not only protects the wooden edges from being battered up, but also protects against splitting. Furthermore, and equally important, the channel is readily adapted for positive and permanent fastening to the wall. The channel shape is likewise important in connection with the anchoring of structural elements making up the remaining portions and reenforcing members of the crate, as is hereinafter ,de scribed.

The channel members 7 and 8 are generally of similar construction, and may be of any suitable material such as metal. Figure 4 shows one of the end wall channels, and it will be seen that the flanges at the ends thereof are bent inwardly to narrow the channel at these points. Both side and end wall channels are constructed in this way, and suitable recesses are provided in the walls to accommodate the narrowed portions. As becomes apparent from an inspection of Figure 2, the narrowed portions are provided at the ends of the channels to accommodate the corner reenforcing construction, details of which 95 will be discussed at the proper time.

As best shown in Figure 3, the side walls are recessed alongthe sides of their lower edges, and the flanges of the channel members 8 are spaced so that they lie in the recesses. This provides side walls which present smooth surfaces, which is desirable in connection with the stacking of the crates. The flanges of the channel members 7 which cap the end walls however are spaced to embrace the whole end wall thickness. This latter feature is important in connection with bottom wall fastening.

The bottom of the crate comprises a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending rods 9. These rods provide support of the bottles carried in the crate and are anchored in the end walls 4 and extend through the flanges of the channel members 8, as best shown in Figure 1. Since the bot-v tom rods pass through the flanges of the channel members, and since the latter members embrace the whole end wall thickness, the anchorage provided for these rods is especially strong. It is pertinent to note that the bottom rods tie in with the channel members 8, since the latter form part of a reenforcing network which is built up in and about the crate construction.

Means are provided for reenforcing the corners of the crate. Suitable angle members 10 are arranged to cap the outer corners of the crate at the junctions of the walls, and are positioned to overlap the outer flanges of the channel members 'Z and 8. Similar angle members 11 are also fitted in the inner corners of the crate and extend to overlap the inner flanges of the channel members. Like the channel members, the angle members may be of suitable material, such as metal. Suitable fastening means, such as the rivets 12, are provided and extend through both angle members, and at least two of these rivets are positioned to also extend through the flanges of the channel members 7 and 8. In other words the angle members 10 and 11 are tied together as well as to the channel members, and all byrivets which pass through the walls as well. This securely binds the wall slats together and at the same time protects the corners and edges from injury. A feature of construction which contributes materially to the strength and resistance of the crate is that the reenforcing members about the lower edges and corners of the crate pass from one reenforcing element to another.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the angle members 16 are set in suitable recesses provided at theedges of the walls. This in-setting of the angle members carries out the idea of providing smooth and unobstructed side walls for the crate; It will also be noted that the narrowing at the ends of the channel members '7 and 8 allows for this in-setting of the angle members, and permits the latter to overlap the ends of the channels and lie flush with the main body thereof.

In order to prevent the upper edges or the walls from splitting out, suitable channel members or yoke clips 13 are provided adjacent the corners of the crate. These clips straddle the upper edges of the walls so that their legs extend downwardly and underlie the flanges of the angle members. Two of the rivets 12 which bind the angle members 10 and 11 together are positioned to also pass through the legs of the yoke clips, as shown in Figure 1. While the channel members 13 are shown as narrow clips, it is obvious that they may be lengthened out to extend across the entire top edges of the walls, as do the lower channel members. This is usually imnecessary however as the top edges are not subjected to the wear and tear of the lower or base edges.

A lug 14 is also provided on each of the inner angle members 11 and is arranged to extend upwardly above the top of the walls, as Shown in Figures 1 and 5. These lugs are provided for the purpose of engaging the inner corner of an adjacent crate to aid in alining the crates in stacked position and for holding the same against shifting when stacked.

Partitions are provided in the crate for spacing the bottles, and are preferably formed by the longitudinally extending rods 16 anchor'ed'in the end walls 4, and the transversely extending rods 1'7 anchored in the side walls 3. The partition rods are preferably arranged so that the longitudinal rods lie adjacent the transverse rods, as best shown in Figure 1. Means are provided for connecting pairs of the crossed rods together. As shown in Figure 6, this connecting means preferably comprises an apertured yoke piece 18 straddling one of the rods and arranged with the adjacent rod passing through its leg apertures.

The lower portions of the transverse partitions preferably comprise an apertured cross plate 19 connected to the side walls by suitable rivets 21; one of these rivets passing through the flanges of the channel member '7. As shown in Figure 1, the plate 19 is positioned so that the bottom rods 9 and the first row of longitudinal partition rods 16 pass through its apertures. It is pertinent to note that the partition plates are tied in with the reenforcing channel members '7, and therefore become a structually integral part of the reenforcing network;

Means are also provided for connecting the partition rods into this reenforcing network. For this purpose an apertured and slotted angle bar- 22 is provided,and is positioned vertically at 1 0 one of the central intersections of the partitions, with the partition plate IQ'engaging its slot and the partition rods 16 and 17 passing through its apertures; the longitudinal rods 16 passin through the apertures in one of its flanges and 16 the transverse rods 17 passingthroug'h' the aperturesin the other flange. The details of this reenfo'rcing between the partitions and bottom'ot the crate is best'shown in Figure '7; One of the reenforcing bars 22 is preferably provided at 11 each partition intersection at the central portions of the crate; the other rod intersections being individually secured by the yoke pieces 18.

I claim? 1. A crate comprising side and end walls, chan- 1715 nel members capping the edges of said walls, and angle members at the corners formed by the junctions of said walls and lapping the channel members, said channel members being narrowed at their ends -to prdvide recesses in which the 120 angle members may seat.

2. A crate comprising sideaiid' end walls, channel members cap'pin'g'the lower "edges of said walls, angiemembers capping the outer corners at the junctions ofsaid 'walls and lapping the 125 outer flanges of said channel members, angle member's fitting' the inner corners at'said junctions and lapping the inner flanges of said channel members, and fastening means passing through the flanges of both inner and outer angle 13 members and the flanges of said channel members.

3. A crate comprising side and end walls, an angle member capping the outer corner at the junction of the said walls, an angle member flt- 13 ting the inner corner at said junction, yoke clips straddling the upper edges of the'walls adjacent said junction and lapping both angle members with their inner legs underlying the inner angle members, and fastening means passing through 14 the flanges of both angle members and the legs of said clips, said inner angle member having a lug portion projecting beyond the upper edges of said walls to provide a stacking post.

4. A crate comprising side and end walls, an 1,, U angle member capping the outer corner at the junction of the said walls-, an angle member fitting the inner corner at said junction, yoke clips straddling the upper edges of the walls adjacent said" junction and-underlying-both angle mem- 15 bers, and fastening means passing through the flanges of both angle members and the legs of said clips, said inner angle member having a lug portion projecting beyond the upper edges of said walls to provide a stacking post.

5. A crate comprising side and end walls, a bottom comprising longitudinally extending rods anchored in the end walls, longitudinal partitions comprising rods anchored in the end walls, a transverse partition comprising rods anchored in the side walls and an apertured plate secured to the side walls and arranged with bottom rods and longitudinal partition rods passing through its apertures, and means for connecting the parpost.

SIDNEY A. MoGAW. 

